Appliance Pad

ABSTRACT

An appliance pad that is applicable to protecting kitchen appliances, such as a range or stove, is described. The appliance pad is manufactured of a polymer such that a bottom surface of the pad has a hardness so that the pad adheres to at least a portion of a front shelf of the appliance. The front shelf of the appliance where the pad is installed is a portion of the appliance between a cooking section of the appliance and the user. The pad also provides protection of excess heat conducted by the front shelf.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, more and more people have installed gourmet, professionally equipped kitchens in their homes. As a result, the sale of professional-grade stoves, ranges, and ovens has also increased. Such professional-grade appliances may cost five to ten times the cost of standard appliances. Quality, high-end materials and finishes are frequently used in the construction of such appliances. As such, consumers of these appliances are frequently cleaning and attempting to protect the surfaces of these appliances from becoming damaged. For example, the cooking process frequently involves treated aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron pots and pans being moved about the kitchen and contact between the pots and pans and the appliance may scratch or dent the surface. Moreover, surfaces adjacent the cooking area of stovetop appliances, for example, may get hot during the cooking process. Thus, in addition to protecting the surfaces of the appliance from damage, there is a need to increase the safety, and particularly the protection from hot surfaces, for those individuals utilizing the appliance.

Beneficially, the present invention relates to a device to protect at least a portion of a top surface of an appliance. More particularly, the device may be an appliance pad, or a protective pad, that is attached to the top surface in order to protect that surface from becoming scratched, dented, or otherwise damaged. Due to its location on the appliance, that is, usually between a working or cooking surface and a user, a front shelf portion of the top surface may be more susceptible to damage. Thus, among other examples, the pad may cover the front shelf portion of a range, stove, or stovetop kitchen appliance. Moreover, the pad may be constructed from a rubber material, such a two-component liquid silicone rubber. In addition, the pad acts as an insulator of the appliance. As an insulator, the pad may protect users from burns that may otherwise occur due to increased surface temperatures of the appliance during use. As such, within examples, the pad reduces heat transfer away from a cooking area or portion of the stovetop appliance to the front shelf portion. As described in more detail below, the appliance pad is a durable, heat resistant, dishwasher safe product that protects the top surface of kitchen appliances, including professional grade stovetops.

SUMMARY

An example appliance pad, as described herein, protects a front shelf portion of a top surface of kitchen appliance from becoming damaged. The pad absorbs external impact forces in order to prevent the top surface from becoming scratched or dented, among other purposes. Additionally, the pad is constructed from a heat resistant, elastomeric material, providing elasticity and compressibility to construction of the pad.

In one aspect, the disclosure is directed to a system. The system includes an appliance and a pad. The appliance includes a top surface, and the top surface includes a front shelf. Within examples, the top surface may also include a cooking area and the front shelf may be adjacent to the cooking area. The pad is coupled to the appliance. Furthermore, the pad is manufactured from a polymer. As a result, the bottom surface of the pad has a certain hardness such that the pad adheres to at least a portion of the front shelf. By adhering, the pad may not slip, not easily slip, or not otherwise move laterally relative to the top surface of the appliance. Within examples, the pad may be specifically aligned with the shape and contours of the front shelf portion of the appliance.

In another aspect, an appliance pad is disclosed. The appliance pad is rubber and includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of long side surfaces, and a plurality of short side surfaces. The bottom surface is opposite the top surface. Moreover, the bottom surface is configured to adhere to a front shelf surface of an appliance. At least one of the plurality of long side surfaces is aligned with at least a portion of a front edge of the front shelf surface.

Additionally, each of the plurality of short side surfaces is aligned with one of a plurality of short edges of the front shelf surface. Within examples, the bottom surface may be smooth while the top surface is ribbed. The ribbed top surface may be more aesthetically pleasing to consumers while also providing cavities or cut-out areas that may also capture spills, crumbs, etc. Moreover, the thickness of the appliance pad may be approximately two millimeters.

In yet another aspect, a method is described. The method includes heating a cooking surface of an appliance. The cooking surface is adjacent to a front shelf of the appliance. Continuing, the method also includes coupling a pad to at least a portion of the front shelf. Coupling the pad may include aligning edges of the pad with edges of the front shelf and then laying the pad on the front shelf. The pad may be constructed of a silicone rubber material that adheres or resists slipping off the front shelf surface. The method further includes the pad reducing an amount of heat transferred away from the front shelf. Within examples, the pad may insulate the front shelf such that while the front shelf may become hot during cooking, a top surface of the pad remains a temperature comfortable to human touch. In other examples, the method may further include reducing an effect of an external force applied on the appliance, and more particularly, applied on the front shelf of the surface.

These, as well as other aspects, advantages, and alternatives, will become apparent 1 ⁷ 1 to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an appliance with an appliance pad coupled thereto, according to an example implementation.

FIG. 2 illustrates an appliance with an appliance pad coupled thereto, according to an example implementation.

FIG. 3 illustrates an appliance pad, according to an example implementation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example methods and systems are described herein. The words “example,” “exemplary,” and “illustrative” are used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or feature described herein as being an “example,” being “exemplary,” or being “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or features. The example embodiments described herein are not meant to be limiting. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

As introduced above, appliance pad, as described herein, may protect a front shelf portion of a top surface of kitchen appliance from becoming damaged. The pad may be constructed from heat-resistant material that may also absorb a portion of an external force in order to prevent the top surface from becoming scratched or dented, among other purposes. Thus, example appliance pads, systems incorporating appliance pads, and methods of using appliance pads, as described herein, may prevent damage from occurring, reduce potential for a user to experience burns during cooking, all while maintaining a professional and gourmet look the appliance.

A kitchen appliance, such as a stove or a range may include a front shelf area that is between a cooking section (or cooktop, stovetop, etc.) and a user of the appliance. The placement and location of the front shelf makes is particularly prone to damage such as, scratching and denting of the surface of the front shelf during the cooking process as well as during cleaning of the appliance. Damage may occur during normal use by pots, pans, and cooking utensils that may be dragged, dropped, or otherwise come into contact with the front shelf surface of the appliance. Similarly, damage may also occur during cleaning of the appliance, particularly cleaning of the cooking area. For example, many range models include removable cooking grates that are removed to access the cooking surface while cleaning. The cooking grates are frequently heavy and sometimes awkward or cumbersome to move. Thus, the grates may easily contact the front shelf when being removed (or replaced back onto the top surface of the appliance) and cause scratching or denting of the surface of the appliance.

Professional cooking appliances are frequently constructed from a quality, high-end material. Nonetheless, surfaces of such an appliance, including the front shelf may become easily scratched or dented and be costly to repair. For example, many appliances are construction from or have an external finish of stainless steel, brushed stainless steel, or polymer coated stainless steel. The stainless steel may be extremely sturdy, but also easily scratched and damaged. Damage to the appliance is unsightly. Kitchen ranges not only serve as a functional cooking appliance in a modern kitchen, but also contribute to the overall appearance of the kitchen and having a damaged appliance is undesirable.

FIG. 1 illustrates an appliance pad 100 coupled to the appliance 200. As illustrated, the appliance 200 is a range or stove, but it should be understood that the appliance pad 100 may be installed on a variety of other appliances. The appliance 200 includes a top surface 202. Within examples, the top surface 202 may be considered a stovetop, cooktop, or other similar feature. The top surface 202 includes a cooking section 204 (or cooking area) and a front shelf surface 206 (or front shelf 206). The front shelf 206 may be adjacent to the cooking section 204 of the top surface 202. The front shelf 206 may be considered a shelf or panel that runs the width of the appliance 200 at a front edge of the appliance 200. Within examples, the front shelf 206 may be a portion of the top surface 202 that is between a user and the cooking section 204 of the appliance 200. More specifically, the pad 100 may be coupled to at least a portion of the front shelf 206.

FIG. 2 further illustrates the appliance pad 100 and the appliance 200. As depicted in FIG. 2, the appliance pad 100 is partly coupled or partially installed on the appliance 200, or more particularly the front shelf 206 of the appliance 200. Within examples, at least a portion of a long edge 108 of the pad 100 may be aligned with a front edge 208 of the front shelf 206. While the long edge 104 is aligned with the front edge 208 of the front shelf 206, another long edge of the pad 100 on the opposite side of the pad 100 may be adjacent to the cooking section 204 of the appliance 200. Furthermore, a short edge(s) 110 of the pad 100 may be aligned with a short edge(s) 210 of the front shelf 206.

FIG. 3 illustrates the appliance pad 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the appliance pad includes a top surface 102, a plurality of long side surfaces 108, a plurality of short side surfaces 112, and a bottom surface 114. Within examples, the top surface 102 may include other design features. For example, as depicted in FIG. 3, the top surface 102 includes ribbing 104. The ribbing 104 of the top surface 102 may be aesthetically pleasing, but also provide one or more cavities that may help capture or control the spread of crumbs, minor spills, or other debris that result from the cooking or cleaning process. After cooking or cleaning is completed, the pad 100 may be easily cleaned itself, including by placing in a standard dishwasher. The bottom surface 114 may be opposite the top surface 102 of the pad 100. Moreover, within examples, the bottom surface 114 may be smooth and/or flat. Having the smooth bottom surface 114 may increase an amount of surface area of contact between the bottom surface 114 and the front shelf 206.

Within examples, at least one of the long side surfaces 108 may be aligned with at least a portion of the front edge 208 of the front shelf 206. Another of the long side surfaces 108 may be adjacent to the cooking section 204 of the top surface 202 of the appliance 200. Moreover, within further examples, each of the plurality of short side surfaces 112, or at least one of the plurality of short side surfaces 112, may be aligned with one of the plurality of short edges 210 of the front shelf surface 206 the appliance 200.

The pad 100 may constructed of any heat resistant polymer. That is, the pad 100 may be constructed from a polymer with low thermal conductivity. For example, in one embodiment the pad may be constructed from a polymer that is heat resistant up to 210° Celsius, while in another embodiment the pad may be constructed from a polymer that is heat resistant to 400° Celsius. By constructing the pad 100 from a heat resistant polymer, the pad 100 may insulate the front shelf 206 such that heat is not transferred from the front shelf. Thus, the pad 100 may protect a user from burns when the front shelf 206 becomes hot from being adjacent to the cooking section 204.

Furthermore, the pad 100 may have a specific hardness, or property of the material which enables the pad 100 to resist plastic deformation. Within examples, the hardness of pad 100 may be between Shore 30 and Shore 90 on the Shore A scale. In other examples, the pad 100 should have a Shore hardness of Shore 50 to Shore 90. Moreover, the pad 100 may have a hardness and construct such that when the pad 100 is coupled to the front shelf 206, the pad 100 may adhere to at least a portion of the front shelf 206 of the top surface 202 of the appliance 200. Within examples, when the pad 100 is adhered to at least a portion of the front shelf 206, the pad 100 may form a non-slip bond to the front shelf 206 while still being removable as described herein. Having a hardness within the ranges described may allow the pad 100, and more particularly the bottom surface 114 of the pad 100, to adhere to the front shelf 206.

Within examples, adhering the pad 100 to at least a portion of the front shelf 206 may include uniting or attaching the pad 100 to the front shelf 206 such that a force acting in the area of contact between the pad 100 and the front shelf 206 resists lateral movement (i.e., a sliding-type movement) between the pad 100 and the front shelf 206. In other words, the pad 100 may stick to the front shelf 206, but still yet be removable. In at least one example, pad 100, and particularly the bottom surface 114 of pad 100 may have a high coefficient of static friction which may provide that the pad 100 does not easily move laterally relative to the front shelf 206 (i.e., slide easily). However, while causing lateral movement may take a greater force, the pad 100 may be flexible such that a user can easily pick up the pad 100 vertically with little effort (e.g., see FIG. 2 where a portion of the pad 100 has been decoupled from the front shelf 206). For example, the pad 100 may be removed for cleaning of the appliance 200, among other reasons.

When coupled to the front shelf 206, the pad 100 may couple to a portion of the front shelf 206. For example, the pad 100 may couple to, at least fifty percent of the front shelf 206 of the top surface 202 of the appliance 200. Within examples, the pad 100 may couple to at least seventy-five percent of the front shelf 206. In further examples, the pad 100 may couple to at least ninety percent of the front shelf 206. The pad 100 may also couple or be in contact with one hundred percent of the front shelf 206, thus completely covering the front shelf 206 of the top surface 202.

Within examples, the pad 100 may be constructed and/or formed from an elastomer or rubber. More particularly, the pad 100 may be a silicone rubber. For example, the pad 100 may be constructed using a two-component liquid silicone rubber (LSR). More particularly, the pad 100 may be constructed from room-temperature vulcanizing (RTV) (LSR) in some embodiments. It should be understood that materials possessing similar physical features as those described herein are also contemplated herein. For example, various elastic materials with high heat resistance are considered herein. Within examples, the pad 100 may be constructed from a material approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for direct food contact. For example, the pad 100 may be constructed from a material approved under 21 C.F.R. § 177.2600.

Moreover, the pad 100 may have a thickness that is sufficient for the pad 100 to be durable and be able to withstand contact from an external force (e.g., pot or pan) without transferring the effect of that force to the front shelf 206. For example, the pad 100 may be two millimeters. In other examples, the pad 100 may be approximately ten millimeters. In yet other examples, the pad 100 may be between two and twenty millimeters.

The appliance pad disclosed herein may be utilized in various means to provide benefits to a user. Exemplary methods of use and manufacture are described below. While not expressly described in terms of the appliance pad 100 of FIGS. 1-3 and appliance 200 of FIGS. 1-2, it should be understood that the methods disclosed herein are contemplated with consideration of the features and aspects described above in relation to FIGS. 1-3. Moreover, additional features not described by FIGS. 1-3 may be exemplary or highlighted further within the methods described. Further, it should be understood that example methods might be carried out by entities, or combinations of entities, without departing from the scope of the invention.

One method includes heating a cooking surface or cooking section of an appliance. The appliance may be a range or a stove, among other examples. Moreover, the cooking surface may be adjacent to a front shelf of the appliance. Within examples, the front shelf of the appliance may be a portion of a top surface of the appliance that is between a user and the specific cooking surface or cooking area. The method may include coupling a pad (i.e., an appliance pad that may be similar to pad 100 described above), to at least a portion of the front shelf. Within examples, the pad may be coupled to between fifty and one hundred percent of the front shelf. For example, if the pad is coupled to one hundred percent of the front shelf, the pad is considered to cover the entire surface of the front shelf.

The method includes reducing an amount of heat transferred away from the front shelf. For example, the front shelf, being adjacent to the cooking surface may conduct heat during cooking. During extended cooking periods, the front shelf may become hot enough for a user to experience a burn while cooking. As such, the pad, constructed from a heat resistant material, may reduce the amount of heat transferred away from the surface of the front shelf. By reducing the amount of heat transferred away from the surface, the pad may protect a user from potentially being burned. Within examples, the method may include insulating the front shelf by applying or coupling the appliance pad to the front shelf. Insulating the front shelf may include limiting, reducing, or preventing heat from being transferred away from the surface. As described herein, this may protect a user from being burned as well as reduce an amount of heat transferred to other objections (pots, pans, utensils, etc.) that may come into contact with the pad.

In other examples, coupling the pad to the at least a portion of the front shelf may include aligning a long edge of the pad with a front edge of the front shelf. The method may also include aligning at least one short edge of the pad with at least one short edge of the front shelf, among other possibilities.

The method further includes reducing an effect of an external force applied on the appliance. For example, if a pot or pan is dropped, the pad may absorb the energy of the external force created by that pot or pan. Without the pad, the front shelf may become damaged, such as becoming scratched or dented by the external force. However, the pad may reduce the effect that the front shelf of the appliance would have otherwise experienced.

Among method describes the construction of an example appliance pad. Within examples, the method includes pouring a LSR mixture into a mold or injection molding of a LSR. The mold may have the desired design features incorporated into it, such that the final pad has the desired shape, size, and other physical features. The method may further include allowing the LSR mixture to cure until fully vulcanized.

Finally, utilization of the method of manufacture and materials described herein allow for the pad 100 to include an array of design features. For example, in addition to the ribbing, words, logos, etc. may be added to enhance the appearance of the pad 100. Moreover, the pad 100 may be manufactured in any color, including being translucent, semitransparent, transparent or clear.

CONCLUSION

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular implementations described in this application, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

The above detailed description describes various features and functions of the disclosed systems, devices, and methods with reference to the accompanying figures. The example implementations described herein and in the figures are not meant to be limiting. Other implementations can be utilized, and other changes can be made, without departing from the scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein. 

1. A system, comprising: an appliance comprising a top surface; and a pad coupled to the appliance, wherein the pad is manufactured of a polymer such that a bottom surface of the pad has a hardness so that the pad adheres to at least a portion of a front shelf of the top surface of the appliance.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein a long edge of the pad is aligned with a long edge of the front shelf and a short edge of the pad is aligned with a short edge of the front shelf
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein another long edge of the pad is adjacent to at least a portion of a cooking section of the top surface.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the front shelf is adjacent to a cooking section of the appliance.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad is positioned on the front shelf such that the pad reduces an effect of an external force on the front shelf.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the pad is at least two millimeters.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the appliance is a stove.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad is heat resistant.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the hardness is between Shore 30 and Shore 90 on the Shore A scale.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad comprises a two-component liquid silicone rubber.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the pad is ribbed.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the pad adheres to at least fifty percent of the front shelf.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the front shelf is stainless steel.
 14. An appliance pad, comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the bottom surface is configured to adhere to a front shelf surface of an appliance; a plurality of long side surfaces, wherein at least one of long side surfaces is aligned with at least a portion of a front edge of the front shelf surface; and a plurality of short side surfaces, wherein each of the plurality of short side surfaces is aligned with one of a plurality of short edges of the front shelf surface, wherein the appliance pad is rubber.
 15. The appliance pad of claim 14, wherein the bottom surface is generally smooth and the top surface is ribbed.
 16. The appliance pad of claim 14, wherein the appliance pad further comprises a two-component liquid silicone rubber.
 17. The appliance pad of claim 14, wherein a thickness of the pad is at least two millimeters.
 18. A method, comprising: heating a cooking surface of an appliance, wherein the cooking surface is adjacent to a front shelf of the appliance; coupling a pad to at least a portion of the front shelf; and reducing, by the pad, an amount of heat transferred away from front shelf.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: reducing, by the pad, an effect of an external force applied on the appliance.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein coupling the pad comprises: aligning a long edge of the pad with a front edge of the front shelf; and aligning a short edge of the pad with a short edge of the front shelf. 